“To miss out on sorrow would strip the human experience of its depth, reducing it to a hollow hedonism.”
I think about the nature of pain often. Particularly because it’s necessary for human experience, and partly due to wanting to understand the problem of pain in regards to Christianity.
As C.S Lewis writes, “pain would be no problem unless, side by side with our daily experiences of this painful world, we had received what we think a good assurance that ultimate reality is righteous and loving.”
While not entirely related to your essay, I think it’s something worth thinking about. Pain is something people try to escape. But if you desire to do or be anything great, adversity and setbacks are unavoidable.
Thanks for reading and the kind words, Landon. Made my day :)
So interesting you've been exploring pain in relation to Christianity. I've been curious to explore the Christian faith for the past year, but haven't yet made the time. Yet, I have the strong feeling there's something there, I can't quite put my finger on. I'd love to learn how your experience seeking understanding has been.
I love the C.S Lewis quote. A sentence I removed from the final draft of the essay: "Faith, a certainty in the overarching goodness of existence, is my antidote to my pain." If you can believe that 'ultimate reality is righteous and loving' I think it creates an endurance to persist through hardship and adversity.
I agree on the value of pain and the danger in wanting to escape it -- an idea also worth pondering is how pain can heal us. How we have to suffer enough to be sick of all our suffering. How pain "is the bitter potion by which the physician within you heals your sick self." (Gibran)
Thanks for thoughtfully engaging with these ideas with me Landon. Teaching me a lot and really enjoying the dialogue. I appreciate you :)
A lot resonates here. My dad also talks about the highs and lows in life and compares it to the stock market. Also this one “don’t let the highs get too high, or the lows get too low”. Thank you.
Well written my friend. All of what you’ve mentioned is true in one way or another.
Although I find that I’m a slave to my routine (which I love) — I have to remind myself that if I have a morning I don’t meditate, or have a cold shower or whatever….. I’ll be ok.
This then applies to all the larger situations in life as well.
I also love leaning on the rigidity of a routine and keeping good habits but part of life, it seems, is this continuous process of stumbling off your path and then finding your way back to yourself.
Both in a day but also in a year. I often think of professional athletes, the best in the world at what they do, who have an entire bad season.
Wow, so beautifully written. My favorite quote:
“To miss out on sorrow would strip the human experience of its depth, reducing it to a hollow hedonism.”
I think about the nature of pain often. Particularly because it’s necessary for human experience, and partly due to wanting to understand the problem of pain in regards to Christianity.
As C.S Lewis writes, “pain would be no problem unless, side by side with our daily experiences of this painful world, we had received what we think a good assurance that ultimate reality is righteous and loving.”
While not entirely related to your essay, I think it’s something worth thinking about. Pain is something people try to escape. But if you desire to do or be anything great, adversity and setbacks are unavoidable.
Thanks for reading and the kind words, Landon. Made my day :)
So interesting you've been exploring pain in relation to Christianity. I've been curious to explore the Christian faith for the past year, but haven't yet made the time. Yet, I have the strong feeling there's something there, I can't quite put my finger on. I'd love to learn how your experience seeking understanding has been.
I love the C.S Lewis quote. A sentence I removed from the final draft of the essay: "Faith, a certainty in the overarching goodness of existence, is my antidote to my pain." If you can believe that 'ultimate reality is righteous and loving' I think it creates an endurance to persist through hardship and adversity.
I agree on the value of pain and the danger in wanting to escape it -- an idea also worth pondering is how pain can heal us. How we have to suffer enough to be sick of all our suffering. How pain "is the bitter potion by which the physician within you heals your sick self." (Gibran)
Thanks for thoughtfully engaging with these ideas with me Landon. Teaching me a lot and really enjoying the dialogue. I appreciate you :)
A lot resonates here. My dad also talks about the highs and lows in life and compares it to the stock market. Also this one “don’t let the highs get too high, or the lows get too low”. Thank you.
Thanks Sadia! Really appreciate the kind words
Funny, I was thinking of pulling in a comparison to economic cycles but didn't know where.
I've found it to be a helpful reminder to stay grounded and to survive the vicissitudes of life.
Thanks again for reading :)
Well written my friend. All of what you’ve mentioned is true in one way or another.
Although I find that I’m a slave to my routine (which I love) — I have to remind myself that if I have a morning I don’t meditate, or have a cold shower or whatever….. I’ll be ok.
This then applies to all the larger situations in life as well.
Thank you for the kind words Sul :)
I also love leaning on the rigidity of a routine and keeping good habits but part of life, it seems, is this continuous process of stumbling off your path and then finding your way back to yourself.
Both in a day but also in a year. I often think of professional athletes, the best in the world at what they do, who have an entire bad season.
https://youtu.be/ErWpi_91b70